Method of and means for cooling electrical conductors when inclosed in conduits of concrete or the like



T. E. MURRAY. METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR COOLING ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS WHENINCLOSED IN CONDUITS 0F CONCRETE OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 28, 1-921.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- T. E. MURRAY. METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR cooumsELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS WHEN INCLOSED IN CONDUITS 0F CONCRETE OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED 1A1L28, 192].

L T E ,E no a; H DE H d 62 t n e t a D1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. MURRAY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CONDUCTORS WHEN INCLOSED THE LIKE.

Application filed January 28, 1921.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Trroaras E. MURRAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn. in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Methods of and Meansfor Cooling Electrical Conductors When Inclosed in Conduits of Concreteor the like, of which the following is a specification.

The invention is a method of cooling electrical conductors when inclosedin conduits of concrete or the like, and a means for carrying saidmethod into practical effect.

I have found that where electrical conductors-especially cablesconveying heavy currentsare carried in underground conduits of concreteor like material they are apt to become overheated, with consequentimpairment. In order to keep said conductors cool, I make the materialof the conduit sufiiciently pervious to permit a cooling liquid to seepthrough it, and so pass to the earth.

In the accompanying drawings I show my invention embodied in a multipleconduit in which are formed, by molding, a plurality of ducts for theconductors. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ends of two adjacentconduits, showing one conductor in place and also the connecting pipefor liquid circulation from one conduit to the other. Fig. 2 is a planview of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the system for circulating aliquid from a central station through a plurality of successive conduitsand back to the station again. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a portionof the end of one of the conduits, howing the liquid circulating duct,

and indicating the pervious character of he concrete.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

A and B are multiple conduits formed of concrete or the like and moldedupon suitable cores, substantially for example, as set forth in mypending application Serial No. 396,956, filed July 17 1920. I make theconcrete pervious to liquid by any suitable means, such as by mixing dryashes or sawdust with it, or injecting air under pressure while theconcrete mass is still liquid and before the molding operation. Theelectric conductors or cables, one of which is shown in lace at C, aredisposed in any desired Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921. Serial No. 440,821.

number of the ducts D and pass continuously from one conduit to thenext, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. One duct E in the upper tier of ductsin each conduit is reserved for the liquid circulation. The ends of saidducts E in the two adjacent conduits A, B are closed by plugs F, andcommunication between said ducts E is established by a pipe G.

In Fig. 3, H represents a station in which there is a pump I whichdelivers water through the ducts E of the several conduits; so that thecirculation proceeds from said pump through the water ducts E of theconduits J A, B, K, L and their connecting pipes G, and so back to saidpump. By reason of the pervious character of the material of theconduits, as indicated at M, Fig. l, the water circulating in ducts E isforced or eeps by gravity through the mass of said conduits, so into theducts D and down through said mass, finally escaping into the earth oraccumulating in the manholes N between the conduits and thence passingto the earth. The water may be artificially cooled in any suitable waybefore it is delivered into the duct E. In warm weather it will tend tocool itself by evaporation from the surfaces of the conduit-s. I may usemore than one duct in each conduit for liquid circulation; if desired,and instead of water I may use any suitable noncongealable liquidpreviously cooled-avoiding, of course, such liquids as will form soliddeposits in the pervious concrete.

he invention is especially applicable to power and lighting conduits inhot climates or in localities where they run near to steam heatingdistribution pipes, or where some exigency requires that they shall belaid close to the surface and so be but little protected from the sun.

I claim:

1. The method of cooling an electrical conductor disposed in a conduitof concrete, which consists in making said conduit of material perviousto liquid flow and causing said liquid to circulate through a duct insaid conduit and to and through the portion of said conduit inclosingsaid conductor.

2. The method of cooling a plurality of electrical conductors disposedin a multiple conduit of concrete, which consists in making said conduitof material pervious to 3. A multiple conduit of molded concretepervious to liquid and having a plurality of ducts, and means forcirculating a liquid through one of said ducts.

4. A plurality of conduits of molded concrete pervious to liquid eachconduit havin a plurality of ducts,and means for circu ating liquidthrough a corresponding ductineach of said conduits successively.

5. A plurality of cOnduitS of molded concrete pervious to liquid anddisposed successively, each conduit having a plurality of ducts, meansfor connecting together a duct. in each of said conduits, and means forcirculating liquid through said connected ducts and said connectingmeans.

6. Twomultiple conduits of molded concrete pervious to to end with a gapbetween them, each con duit having a plurality of ducts, one duct ineach conduit being closed at the contiguous ends of said conduits, and apipe extending across said gap and connecting said ducts. I

In testimony whereof I'liave aiiixed my signaturein presence of twoWitnesses.

THOMAS E. MURRAY.

Witnesses GERTRUDE T. PORTER, MAY T. MOGARRY.

liquid and disposed end

